How is Achilles tendon bursitis treated?

Treating tendinopathy is a challenging task. Patients can expect symptom resolution only 3-12 months after the therapy start. In about 25% of patients, symptoms persist even 10 years after the onset of the disease. As a result, tendinitis significantly impairs quality of life and reduces physical activity levels. 

The main treatment options for the disease are as follows: 

• therapeutic exercises;
• shock wave therapy; 
• orthoses; 
• drug treatment; 
• cell therapy. 

In total, there are more than 40 types of treatment. Such a large number of techniques and the lack of a standard approach indicate that the therapy results are not always good, and the search for better methods continues.

The surgical treatment of bursitis is started in the absence of the positive dynamics within 3 months, and also if the final result of treatment that would suit the patient is not achieved within 12 months. The operation allows the patient to eliminate the symptoms and restore the tendon, returning to work or sports in a short time.

Conservative therapy

Most patients manage to improve their health with conservative therapy. Doctors in Germany use modern techniques that provide pain relief and restore the injured tendon.

Therapeutic exercises are one of the main treatment methods. They are more effective in people with initially low levels of physical activity.

Additional treatment methods include: 

• stretching the calf muscle;
• stretching the soleus muscle;
• stretching the hamstring;
• an ice massage for the Achilles tendon; 
• physiotherapy. 

Achilles tendinitis is often treated with high-energy or low-energy shock wave therapy. Acoustic waves cause microdamage to tissues, which triggers the recovery processes. The procedure also has a symptomatic effect: it quickly relieves pain. Studies show that high-energy shock wave therapy provides a better effect than low-energy one.

Doctors in Germany also use injection therapy: 

• polidocanol, which blocks neovascularization (the growth of new blood vessels);
• botulinum toxin; 
• hyaluronic acid. 

Some clinics use cold air therapy and high-power laser therapy. Platelet-rich plasma and stem cell injections are used to accelerate tissue regeneration.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to achieve immediate symptom relief. The tendon can be unloaded with a heel lift orthosis.

Surgical interventions

Conservative therapy usually resolves the symptoms of Achilles tendonitis after a few months. Many patients have to resort to different types of therapy before they achieve a satisfactory result.

For approximately one in four treated patients, the therapy is not effective enough. Symptoms become milder but do not disappear completely. In such situations, specialists resort to surgical interventions. The surgical treatment options are as follows:

• a dissection of scars and adhesions to improve the tendon gliding and normalize its blood supply;
• excision of the tendon bag if it is involved in the inflammatory process;
• excision of the area of the injured tendon with a plastic repair of the defect;
• restoration of the tendon with a donor or the patient's graft, it's strengthening with artificial materials.

In people who play sports, healthcare professionals usually use autologous (the patient's own) tissues to restore the tendon, since they are the strongest and survive faster and better. After such an operation and subsequent rehabilitation, a person can tolerate any physical activities, so he returns to his training and competition.

If a person leads a sedentary lifestyle and does not have high requirements for functional results, then plastic surgery can be performed using donor or artificial materials (nylon, dacron, lavsan). These surgical interventions are less traumatic.

Why is it worth undergoing treatment in Germany?

Germany offers the highest level of medicine in Europe and one of the highest in the world. This country is also famous for its sports medicine. Professional athletes from all over the world come here for their treatment. There are a few reasons for you to undergo achilles tendinitis treatment in Germany:

• high-precision diagnostics, which allows doctors to plan the treatment perfectly; 
• the latest methods of conservative therapy provide long-term relief or elimination of symptoms in most patients;
• doctors here perform modern surgical interventions, including the use of minimally invasive methods; 
• you will be operated on by surgeons who are among the best in the world;
• after the operation, you can undergo full rehabilitation in one of the rehabilitation centers in order to return to your usual life and training as soon as possible.

You can undergo treatment for Achilles tendonitis and bursitis in one of the clinics in Germany. You are kindly welcome to visit the Booking Health website to see the prices for your treatment. With our website, you can make an appointment for your treatment at a favorable price, without additional coefficients for foreign patients. The Booking Health specialists will help you choose the most suitable hospitals in Germany and organize your trip abroad.

Authors: 

The article was edited by medical experts, board certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Sergey Pashchenko. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!

Sources:

Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research

Articles for Orthopaedic Practice - Orthogate

Healthline